Illegal Dumping in Kamloops: What to Do If You See It - and How to Choose a Responsible Junk Hauler

Illegal dumping is a real problem. So is jumping to conclusions.

Illegal dumping damages neighbourhoods, back roads, public land and the environment. It also leaves taxpayers, property owners and legitimate waste companies dealing with somebody else's mess.

But there is another side to the issue that matters just as much: if you believe you are witnessing illegal dumping, document what actually happened before publicly accusing someone of doing it.

A photograph can be useful evidence. A photograph without context can also tell only part of the story.

A recent Kamloops example: why the whole sequence matters

In August 2026, Kamloops Junk Haulers published a public Facebook post responding to photographs that had apparently been taken of one of its operators working with material in a trailer on Ord Road. According to the company, the photographs were circulated with an allegation that garbage was being illegally dumped.

Kamloops Junk Haulers denied the allegation. The company stated that its operator was breaking down bulky items inside the trailer to make room for another pickup and that no garbage was left behind after he departed.

We do have a practical question about that explanation. In our experience, bulky material would normally be broken down at the pickup location, at our yard, or at an appropriate disposal facility rather than stopping along the side of a road to do it. Doing that work roadside can understandably attract attention and create suspicion, even when nothing improper is taking place.

That does not mean illegal dumping occurred, and The Job Squad is not making that determination.

What the alledged incident and Facebook post does demonstrate is; Public allegations of illegal dumping can affect more than the company involved. They can create unnecessary suspicion around an entire industry, while an overly defensive public response can damage trust in the other direction. When a business publicly attacks or questions the motives of members of the public, it can create unnecessary tension and make the industry appear defensive or adversarial. Legitimate junk removal companies rely on public trust, which is why both accusations and responses should be handled carefully, factually, fairly and professionally.

If you believe you are witnessing illegal dumping, report it properly

The Facebook post suggested that the person who took the photographs should have contacted the company for an explanation.

We disagree that contacting the company should be the primary response when someone genuinely believes they are witnessing illegal dumping.

If you reasonably believe waste is actually being abandoned illegally, document what you can safely observe and report it through the appropriate authorities.

There is an important reason for this. A legitimate operator who has done nothing wrong should have an opportunity to provide an explanation if authorities contact them. But if someone actually is engaged in illegal dumping, giving them advance notice does not necessarily help preserve evidence or establish what happened.

Where to report suspected illegal dumping in Kamloops

If you genuinely believe you are witnessing illegal dumping, you do not need to confront the person or contact the company involved and ask it to investigate itself.

There are established reporting channels for exactly this reason.

Inside the City of Kamloops

The City of Kamloops specifically identifies the witnessed disposal of litter on public space where suspect information is available as something that can be reported to its Community Services Division.

Reports can be made through the City's online Request for Service system or by calling 250-828-3409.

When submitting a complaint, provide as much factual information as you safely can: the location, date and time, what you actually witnessed, vehicle or trailer information, licence plate if available, company markings and photographs or video.

The City's complaint form requires identifying information from the person making the report, but the City states that this information is kept confidential unless the matter ultimately proceeds to Provincial Court.

Outside City limits and in the TNRD

For illegal dump sites in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and surrounding backcountry, the TNRD asks residents to observe, record and report illegal dumping through its Report and Restore program.

The TNRD says its backcountry cleanup programs dealt with 16 illegal dump sites in 2025 alone, removing more than 55 tonnes of waste.

You can also report suspected dumping to the Province

British Columbia's Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) program specifically accepts reports of illegal dumping, including household garbage, construction debris, business waste, furniture, appliances, vehicles and other waste.

Reports can be submitted online or by calling the 24-hour RAPP line at:

1-877-952-7277

The Province's guidance is also very clear:

Do not confront or attempt to apprehend the person.

Observe what happened, document it as accurately as possible and provide that information to the appropriate authority.

Why we don't recommend confronting the hauler

If you believe you have actually witnessed illegal dumping, we don't think your first responsibility should be to approach the person or company involved and ask for an explanation.

That's what investigators are for.

A legitimate operator who has done nothing wrong can explain what occurred if contacted by the appropriate authority. But if someone really is illegally dumping waste, alerting them before making a report may accomplish little other than telling them that somebody saw them.

Observe. Document. Report. Let the proper authority determine what happened.

Do not put yourself at risk, trespass, block a vehicle or confront somebody simply to obtain better evidence. The goal is to observe, record and report - not to create another problem.

We know what illegal dumping cleanup actually looks like

The Job Squad has firsthand experience with the other end of this problem. In the past, we performed work for the Thompson-Nicola Regional District collecting material from illegal dump sites.

Those cleanups are not quick roadside pickups. They can be dirty, unpleasant and time-consuming. Someone has to handle the material, load it, haul it to the appropriate facility and pay the disposal charges. That means labour, equipment, fuel and landfill costs are being incurred simply because somebody chose not to dispose of their waste properly.

Ultimately, that cleanup has to be paid for. When a regional district or municipality has to send contractors or crews to deal with illegally dumped material, those costs become a public expense. In one form or another, taxpayers and ratepayers carry the burden.

We understand why people are frustrated by disposal costs. Landfill and tipping fees can be a meaningful expense, and we believe the TNRD and the City of Kamloops should continue looking for practical ways to control those costs and make responsible disposal as accessible and affordable as possible.

But expensive disposal is not an excuse to dump waste on a back road, vacant property or public land. It only shifts the bill from the person who created the waste to everybody else.

Proper disposal costs money

There is a simple reason responsible junk removal cannot be priced as though disposal is free: it is not.

At the City of Kamloops Mission Flats Landfill, 2026 rates include $90 per tonne for municipal solid waste, plus material-specific surcharges. Unseparated demolition, land-clearing and construction waste is listed at $250 per tonne. Other materials have their own rates and handling requirements.

A professional junk removal quote is not just the cost of a truck and a person. It also has to account for labour, transportation, fuel, insurance, equipment, appropriate disposal and the cost of operating a legitimate business.

High disposal costs deserve scrutiny too

At the same time, we do not believe local governments should get a free pass on disposal costs. In our view, both the City of Kamloops and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District can and should do better at managing landfill, diversion and recycling costs while keeping responsible disposal as accessible and affordable as possible.

Mattress disposal is a useful example. Published 2026 fees show a noticeable difference between Kamloops and several nearby communities:

• Kamloops - Mission Flats Landfill: $20 per mattress or box spring for residential customers; $35 per unit for commercial customers.

• Kelowna - Glenmore Landfill: $18 per mattress.

• Penticton / RDOS - Campbell Mountain Landfill: $19 per mattress or box spring.

• Greater Vernon / RDNO: $11 per mattress or box spring.

• Salmon Arm - CSRD landfill: $15 mattress-recycling add-on.

Those numbers are worth paying attention to, especially for commercial haulers in Kamloops who face the $35 per-unit charge. The TNRD, for example, says its mattresses are transported to Hope for disassembly and material recovery and that its average recycling cost is about $43.50 per unit.

But those differences are exactly why the costs deserve a closer look. The price people and legitimate businesses pay at the disposal site affects the real-world cost of doing the right thing. We believe the City of Kamloops and the TNRD should continually challenge those costs, look for more efficient options and make responsible disposal easier to choose - not more difficult.

That is a separate issue from illegal dumping, and it deserves a separate article. We plan to take a closer look at how Kamloops and the TNRD compare with surrounding communities on landfill and recycling costs, including what may be driving those differences and where better cost management may be possible.

None of that changes the basic point: high disposal fees are not an excuse for illegal dumping. They are a reason to demand better cost management from local government while still disposing of waste responsibly.

What B.C. law actually says

Illegal dumping is not one single offence with one universal fine. The applicable provision and penalty depend on what happened.

Under section 12 of British Columbia's Environmental Management Act, a person must not deposit and leave litter in a public place. A conviction for contravening the littering section can carry a fine of up to $2,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both.

Other unauthorized waste-disposal offences under the Act can be considerably more serious and carry much higher maximum penalties. That is why broad claims such as "illegal dumping carries a $100,000 fine" can oversimplify the law. The facts and the legal provision matter.

Once your junk leaves the driveway, who are you trusting with it?

For most customers, the job feels finished the moment the unwanted furniture, renovation debris or household junk disappears from the property. But that is the exact moment you are relying on the hauler to do the next part properly.

You are trusting that the material will be taken to an appropriate landfill, recycling facility, donation organization or other legitimate destination - and not abandoned somewhere because doing so is cheaper or easier.

Items found at an illegal dump site can also contain addresses, names, shipping labels or other information that may lead authorities back to the original owner and create questions nobody wants to answer.

Sometimes a Facebook or Craigslist hauler looks like a bargain

Hiring someone from Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist or a community group can seem like an easy way to save a few dollars. And to be fair, many people offering hauling services through those channels may be completely well-intentioned.

The risk is that a low price does not tell you whether the person taking your junk is operating as an accountable business - or whether you can find them again if something goes wrong.

Before choosing a hauler based mainly on price, ask what you can actually verify:

• Do they have an appropriate current business licence?

• Can their WorkSafeBC status or clearance be verified where applicable?

• Do they carry commercial liability insurance?

• Will they provide an invoice or receipt showing who performed the work?

• Do they have an established business identity, website, phone number and operating history?

• Can they explain where different types of material will be taken?

• Do their prices make sense once legitimate landfill, labour and operating costs are considered?

The question is not only, "Who will take this away for the least money?" It is also, "Who am I trusting to take responsibility for it once it leaves my property?"

Sometimes the apparent savings are not worth giving up the peace of mind that comes from hiring a business whose licensing, insurance, WorkSafeBC status, history and reputation can be checked.

What should you ask a junk removal company before hiring it?

1. How long have you been operating under this business name?

2. Are you appropriately licensed for the work you are doing?

3. Do you carry commercial liability insurance?

4. Can I verify WorkSafeBC coverage or clearance where it applies?

5. Will I receive an invoice or receipt?

6. Where will my material be disposed of, recycled or donated?

7. What is included in the quoted price?

8. Are landfill charges, labour, travel or other surcharges additional?

9. What happens if the load contains a material that requires special handling?

Why an established track record matters

Being in business for a long time does not automatically make a company perfect. Community involvement does not replace proper licensing or insurance either. But together, verifiable credentials create accountability.

A company with years of operating history, invoices, customers, public reviews, licensing, insurance and a consistent business identity leaves a much larger trail than somebody who can simply delete an online ad and disappear.

Community claims should be treated the same way. If a business talks publicly about supporting local organizations, customers should be able to see the projects, posts or other records behind those claims. Community support is most meaningful when it is something people can verify, not just a slogan.

How The Job Squad approaches responsible junk removal

The Job Squad has provided Full-Service junk removal to the Kamloops area for more than 10 years. We believe customers should be able to know who they are hiring, understand what they are paying for and ask where their material is going.

• We operate as an established local business with a documented operating history.

• We have firsthand experience cleaning up illegal dump sites for the TNRD, so we know the time, labour and public cost created when waste is abandoned instead of disposed of properly.

• We maintain the licensing and insurance appropriate to our operation and encourage customers to verify credentials rather than simply take a company's word for it.

• We publish junk removal pricing information online so customers can understand the cost before the truck arrives.

• We explain local disposal costs and the different rules that can apply to household waste, construction debris, mattresses, appliances and other materials.

• We provide proper business documentation for the work we perform.

• We have documented community involvement and believe community-support claims should be backed by something customers can actually see and verify.

Responsible junk removal should not require blind trust. A reputable hauler should give you enough information to make an informed choice.

If you see suspected illegal dumping, report facts - not assumptions

Illegal dumping deserves to be reported. The people and businesses that dispose of waste properly should not have to compete with operators who avoid legitimate disposal costs.

At the same time, a serious allegation deserves serious evidence. Document the full event, record what was actually left behind, use the proper reporting channels and let the facts determine what happened.

Observe. Record. Report. And when you hire someone to remove your junk, choose a company you can verify.

Need junk removed in Kamloops? See The Job Squad's transparent pricing page, learn about our services, or contact us to discuss your removal.